Hydraulically operated liquid dispensing device



April 11, 1950 A. R. BURGESS 2,503,376

' HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 9, 1946 FIG. I.

. Patented Apr. 11, 1950 HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Archibald R. Burgess, St. Louis, Mo., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Marion L. J. Lambert, doing business as Crystal-Flo Producte'Company, St. Louis, Mo.

Application February 9, 1946, Serial No. 648,544

23 Claims. (c1. 225-21) 1 This invention relates to transfer pumps, and with regard to certain more specific features, to pumps of this class for beverage dispensers and the like.

Among the several objects of the invention may be noted the provisions of a simple pump havin few moving parts for transferring liquid from a zone of relatively low pressure (such as of a city water supply) to a zone of relatively higher pressure (such as of a water-carbonating chamher); the provision of a transfer pump of the class described which with its transfer operation performs a delivery to a nozzle of carbonated water obtained from the relatively high pressure carbonating zone; the provision of carbonator apparatus of the class described which will produce a gentle flow of carbonated water from a dispensing faucet with minimum loss of carbonation; and the provision of apparatus of this class which functions as a make-up pump for maintaining a substantially constant level of water in a carbonating chamber. Other obiects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which several of various possible embodiments of the invention are illustrated,

Fig.1 is a diagrammatic sectionalview illustrating the invention; i

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view of a valve of Fig. 1 shown in a turned position;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section taken on line 33 of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary view of a modified form of certain parts.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Although the present invention is exemplified in a carbonated water dispenser, and is so described, it is to be understood that it is applicable in principle to analogous systems.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, there is shown at numeral I a pressure tank which carries a water supply 3 to be carbonated. At 5 is shown an inlet for carbon dioxide gas under pressure. This gasenters the water through openings 1 in a distributor head 9 at the inner end of the pipe 5. The opening I 2 causes gas to bubble through the water and thus to enhance the desired dissolving action of the gas in the water for the purpose of carbonating the latter. An exemplary pressure carried in the tank i is, for example, 90 p. s. 1. gauge.

At numeral II is shown a fresh water inlet, connected to the top of the tank 1, and at numeral I8 is shown a carbonated water outlet from the tank. The inlet II is supplied from an ordinary water supply main l5 (for example at 15 p. s. 1. gauge pressure). The water supply connection consists in a first inlet check valve ii, a pipe l9 leading to one end of a pump cylinder It, a pipe 23 from said cylinder, a second check valve 25 and a pipe 21. The pipes ii and t! are connected through a manifold 29 covering an opening 33 in the side of the tank 8. A movable needle valve 35 passes through the opening. The opening is sealed off around the needle valve by means of a flexible bellows 35 attached at one end around the opening and at the other end around an enlarged portion 3'5 on the needle valve 35. Thus the valve 3! may be moved through the opening without leakage of liquid from the tank to the opening 33. Other packing means may be used at this point. The valve is adapted to move to and from a seat around a water overflow opening or port 39. The inner end of the valve stem 3! is pivoted to a lower arm of a pivoted bell crank lever The other arm of the lever it carries a hollow float 43.

Cylinder 2i carries a floating piston 45 behind which is a reactive compression spring 61 whereby said fioating piston 45 divides the cylinder 26 into inversely expansible and contractible com= partments c, c. The base of this spring seats upon an adjustment plate 49 which may bepositioned by means of an adjusted screw 5!. The male threads of the screw have a sealing engagement with their cooperating female threads, thus sealing the compartment 0' behind the piston 45. This compartment c is connected with the outlet It by means of a pipe 53, and a threeway valve 55. Thus the valve may be set either as shown in Fig. 1 wherein the carbonator compartment is out of commimicating with the cylinder 20, or wherein it isconnected (see Fig. 2).

When the valve is in the Fig. 1 position, a connection exists between the rear of the cylinder 2| and an outlet 51 of a faucet 58. The faucet 58 is of special form having a straight vertical outlet portion 58, with a horizontal by-pass connection 6i leading to a tortuous by-pass 83. The

outlet I of this by-pass 83 is adjacent to the outlet ll of the straight passage ll. The passage 6 I has a Venturi shape therein.

Operation is as follows:

When the handle of the valve is raised, as shown in Fig. l, the rear of the cylinder 2| is connected with the faucet Bl. The pressure on this side of the piston 4! falls to atmospheric and water under line pressure is then admitted to the cylinder 2| through the check valve II. This pushes the piston 45 to the right, compresses the spring ll, and the carbonated 'water moves from the rear of cylinder 2| to thefaucet 58 from which it is discharged into a glass (not shown) below the faucet. This action continues until the glass is filled, or until the piston reaches the extreme right-hand end of its travel (as determined by complete compression of spring 41). When the glass is filled, the valve I! is turned to the position shown in Fig. 2 so as to shut off the flow to the nozzle and to connect the cylinder 2| with the tank I. Thus equal hydraulic pressures exist on opposite sides of the piston 45. Under these conditions the previously compressed spring 41 again expands and forces the piston 45 to th left, thus displacing the raw water ahead of it through the check valve and into the carbonating chamber I. Normally the piston will travel to the extreme left of the cylinder 2|.

Should the level of water in the carbonator tank I rise too high, the float 43 will be raised and i will draw back the needle valve 3| to open the port 39, thus bleeding of! raw water which otherwise would normally be forced into the tank I. Should the level of the water in the tank fall below the outlet of the pipe I3, carbon dioxide gas under pressure will'enter this pipe and will pass to the rear of cylinder ii, to be delivered from the faucet SI. Ordinarily this will not occur.

The seat 4! of the spring 41 is adjusted so that the force exerted by the spring will be less than that developed by the water pressure from the .main i5 acting on the face of the piston 45.

4, the differential cylinder 22 will have a differential piston N with a large end 2| and a smaller end 2t. This provides the unbalanced force for transferring raw water from the left of piston 24 to the tank I when valve is in the Fig. 2 position.

The piston 5 can also be replaced by equivalent devices such as spring-biased flexible bellows, diaphragms, etc. Also, the check valves I1 and 25 may be replaced by a three-way valve (similar .to valve 58) and mechanically coordinated to operate as an equivalent to the check valves. The valve 58 may, if desired, be of the over-centering variety so that it will snap into either a fully open or a fully closed position positively without substantial intermediate throttling.

The purpose of the by-pass ll, 03 and is to permit the carbon dioxide gas, which may be evolved from the carbonated water in the righthand end of cylinder 2i, independently to expand gradually, without blasting slugs of liquid into the glass held under the faucet. Any liquid flowing from the valve II tends to move downward through passage 50; whereas any released and entrained carbon dioxide will tend to pass across the top of the passage and through the passage 6|, through the labyrinth I3 and to the gas outlet 65. The reason for having the gas outlet ll near the liquid outlet 51 is that any small amount of liquid that may be carried over into the labyrinth 83 will ultimately drop into the container located beneath the outlet '1.

Advantages of the invention are as follows:

Once the initial pressure is released from the cylinder II by opening of the valve I! (Fig. 1), water flows from the cylinder 2| under the moderate pressure on the piston 45 as obtained from the water main I5. This pressure is much less than that required in a tank I for carbonation. The flow from the faucet II is gentle and without the relatively violent scrubbing action, such as normally occurs when the customary type of apparatus is employed. In the latter the carbonated water is throttled from the relatively high pressure of the carbonating chamber to atmospheric pressure. By means of the invention a greater amount of residual carbonation is retained in the carbonated water after release from the faucet 58. What carbon dioxide is released is bled off gently by the labyrinth by-pass i I, N, I.

As is clear from the drawings and description there are only a few simple parts. No auxiliary injector pumps are used driven from auxiliary energy sources. The ordinary city water line pressure supplies the energy for injecting water into the tank I. Furthermore, the proper maximum level of carbonated water in the tank I is maintained by bleeding relatively valueless raw water, as distinguished from prepared carbonated water itself.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Means for charging a fluid from a supply of relatively low pressure into a tank of relatively high pressure and for discharging to a nozzle, comprising fluid inlet means and outlet means for the tank, means forming a chamber, a movable wall within the chamber providing inversely expansible and contractible first and second compartments, a connection from the second compartment with said nozzle, valve means adapted to connect said second compartment either with the tank or said nozzle, said inlet means for the tank including the first expansible and contractible compartment, and valve means between the low pressure supply and the first compartment and between said first compartment and the tank.

2. Means for charging a iiuid from a supply of relatively low pressure into a' tank of relatively high pressure and for discharging to a nozzle, comprising fluid inlet means and outlet means for the tank, means forming a chamber, a movable wall within said chamber providing inversely expansible and contractible first and second compartments, a connection from the second compartment with said nozzle, valve means adapted to connect said second compartment either with the tank or said nozzle. said inlet means ior 76 the tank including the first expansible and contractible compartment, valve means between the low pressure supply and the first compartment and between said first compartment and the tank, all of said valves being coordinated in action so that when said second compartment is connected with the nozzle the connection between thesupply and the first compartment is open and the valve between the first compartment 01' the tank is closed, and when the connection between the second compartment and the tank is opened the valve between the first compartment and the tank is opened.

3. Means for charging a fluid from a supply of relatively low pressure into a tank of relatively high pressure and for discharging to a nozzle, comprising fluid inlet means and outlet means for the tank, means forming a chamber. a movable wall within said chamber providing inversely expansible and contractible first and second compartments, a connection from the second compartment with said nozzle, valve means adapted to connect said second compartment either with the tank or said nozzle, said inlet means for the tank including the first expansible and contractible compartment, valve means between the low pressure supply in the first compartment and between said first compartment and the tank, a bleeder valve in said connection between the first compartment and the tank, said bleeder valve allowing escape of water from the tank when the water level therein rises substantially above the proper operating level, and means responsive to fluid level in the tank for operating said valve.

4. Dispensing apparatus comprising a pressure tank, a transfer chamber, a movable member in said chamber dividing it into inversely expansible and contractible first and second compartments, an inlet connection from a water supply which is under pressure lower than that of the tank, said connection including the first one of said compartments and leading to the pressure tank, an outlet connection from the pressure tank, a discharge member, a branch connection leading from said outlet connection to said discharge member and another branch to the second compartment of the transfer chamber, first valve means adapted in a first position to connect the outlet connection of the pressure tank only with said second compartment and in another position to connect the second compartment only with the discharge member, a second valve means in said inlet allowing fiow from the first compartment to the pressure tank when said firstvalve is in its first position but at all other times preventing reverse how and a third valve means in said inlet allowing fiow from the water supply to the first compartment only when the first valve connects the second compartment with the discharge member.

5. Means for charging a fiuid from a supply of relatively low pressure into a tank of relatively high pressure and for discharging to a nozzle, comprising fiuid inlet means and outlet means for the tank, means forming a chamber, a movable wall within said chamber providing inversely expansible and contractible first and second compartments, a connection from the second compartment with said nozzle, valve means adapted to connect said second compartment either with the tank or said nozzle, said inlet means for the tank including the first expansible and contractwhen said second compartment is connected with the nozzle the connection between the low pressure supply and the first compartment is open and the valve between the first compartment of the tank is closed, and when the connection between the second compartment and the tank is opened the valve between the first compartment and the tank is opened the valve between the lowpressure supply and the first compartment is closed, a bleeder valve in said connection between the first compartment and the tank, said bleeder valve allowing escape of water from the tank when the water level therein rises substantially above the proper operating level, and means responsive to level of fiuid in the tank for operating said valve.

6. Liquid charging and dispensing apparatus comprising a discharge means, a pressure tank, inlet and outlet connections with said tank, a chamber havin'ga movable member dividing it into a first compartment connected with said inlet and a second compartment connectable alternatively with said outlet or with said discharge means, and a supply connection for said inlet through said first chamber, said movable means including a biasing means for forcing liquid from said first compartment into the tank when the tank is connected on the opposite side of said movable member through said outlet means.

7. Liquid charging and dispensing apparatus comprising a discharge means, a pressure tank, inlet and outlet connections with said tank, a chamber having a movable member dividing it into a first compartment connected with said inlet and a second compartment connectable alternatively with said outlet or with said discharge means, and a liquid supply connection for said inlet through said first chamber, said movable means including a means for biasing it and forcing liquid from said first compartment into the tank when the tank is connected on the opposite side of said movable member through said outlet means, and valve means in said inlet means allowing application to said movable member pressure only from the liquid supply when the second compartment is connected with said discharge'means.

8. In a carbonated water dispenser, a carbonated-water pressure tank, an outlet nozzle i'or carbonated water, a charging member having a movable wall member therein dividing it into a charging and a discharging compartment, an inlet connection from a water supply under pressure to' the pressure tank and including said charging compartment, a first valve in said connection between the water supply and said charging compartment, a second valve in said connection between the chargin compartment and said pressure tank, an outlet connection leading from a point normally below the liquid level in the pressure tank and branched both to said discharge compartment and to said outlet nozzle, a three-way valve controlling the branches adapted in one position exclusively to connect the pressure tank with the discharge compartment and in the other position adapted exclusively to con nect this discharge compartment with the outlet nozzle, said valve between the water supply line and the charging compartment being adapted to be opened in the last-named position of the threeway valve and closed in the first-named position thereof, said first and second valves opening and closing alternatively, and biasing means whereby the movable wall member is biased to expel water from the first compartment into the tank when the second compartment is connected to the tank.

am a carbonated water dispenser, a carbonaied-water pressure tank, an outlet nozzle ior carbonated water. a charging member having a movable wall member therein dividing it into a charging and a discharging compartment, an inletconnection from a water supply under pressure to the pressure tank and including said charging compartment, a first check valve in said connection between the water supply and said charging compartment, a second check valve in said connection between the charging compartment and said pressure tank, an outlet connection leading from a point normally below the liquid level in the pressure tank and branched to said discharge compartment and to said outlet nozzle, three-way valve means connected with said branches adapted in one position exclusively to connect the pressure tank with the discharging compartment and in another position exclusively to connect said discharging compartment only with the nozzle, and means whereby said movable wall member is biased to enlarge the discharge compartment and to diminish the charging compartment when the charging compartment is connected with the tank.

10. In a carbonated water dispenser, a carbonated-water pressure tank, an outlet nozzle for carbonated water, a, charging member having a movable wall member therein dividing it into a charging compartment and a discharging compartment, an inlet connection from a water supply under pressure to the pressure tank and including said charging compartment, a valve in said connection between the water line and said charging compartment, a second valve in said connection between the charging compartment and said pressure tank, an outlet connection leading from a point normally below'the liquid level in the pressure tank and branched to said discharge compartment and to said outlet nozzle, a three-way valve at the branches adapted in one position exclusively to connect the tank with the discharging compartment and in another position to connect the discharging compartment with the outlet 'nozzle, said valve between the water pressure line and the charging compartment being adapted to be opened in the lastnamed position in the three-way valve and closed in the first-named position thereof, a bleeder valve controlling a bleeder opening in said inlet connection, and means responsive to the liquid level in said pressure tank controling said valve to open and discharge water from the inlet connection before it reaches the pressure tank should the level in the latter become too high.

11. A carbonated water dispenser comprising a carbonating pressure tank carrying carbonated water, a charging member having a movable wall member forming a first charging compartment and a second discharging compartment; a raw water feed line for the tank from a raw water supply including serially from the supply a first check valve, said charging compartment, a sec-' ond check valve, and a relief valve; float means responsive to excessive level of carbonated water in the tank controlling said relief valve to open, a dispensing nozzle, a connection between said discharging compartment and said nozzle, an outlet from the tank below its normal water level and leading to said last-named connection, and valve means between said tank outlet and said connection adapted alternatively to connect the tank exclusively with the discharging compartment or connect the discharging compartment exclusively with the dispensing nozzle, said charging member including means biasing it toward moving raw water from the charging compartment to the tank when the tank is connected with said discharging compartment.

12. An outlet nozzle for release of liquid under pressure in which is a dissolved gas comprising a substantially vertically arranged liquid outlet, a laterally arranged gas outlet passage across the upper end of said liquid outlet, a gas releasing opening near the lower end or the liquid outlet, and a labyrinth passage connecting said gas outlet passage and said gas releasing opening.

13. An outlet nozzle for release of liquid under pressure in which is a dissolved gas comprising a substantially vertically arranged liquid outlet, a laterally arranged gas outlet passage across the upper end oi said liquid outlet, a gas releasing opening near the lower end of the liquid outlet, a labyrinth passage connecting said gas outlet passage and said gas releasing opening and a constriction in said laterally arranged gas outlet passage.

14. Liquid charging and dispensing apparatus comprising a tank of relatively high pressure.

said tank having fluid inlet and outlet connections, a cylinder, a movable wall within said cylinder dividing said cylinder into first and second inversely expansible and contractible compartments, said inlet connection being connected with said first compartment, a nozzle, said outlet connection being connected with said nozz e and said second compartment, and means whereby said second compartment may be optionally connected to said outlet connection or said nozzle.

15. A transfer pump comprising a tank of relatively high pressure, a low pressure supply, fluid inlet means for said tank, fluid outlet means ior said tank, a cylinder, a movable wall provided within said cylinder and dividin said cylinder into first and second inversely expansible and contractible compartments, said second compartment being connected with said outlet means, a first valve adapted to connect said second compartment optionally with the tank and said outlet means, said inlet means including said first compartment, a second valve between the low pressure supply and the first compartment, and a third valve between said first compartment and the tank, all of said valves being co-operated.in action so that, when said second compartment is connected with the outlet means, the second valve between the low pressure supply and the first compartment is open and said third valve between the first compartment and the tank is closed and, when the first valve between the second compartment and the tank is open, said third valve between the first compartment and the tank is closed.

16. Means for charging fluid from a supply of relatively low pressure into a tank of relatively high pressure comprising fluid inlet means for said tank, a nozzle, a cylinder, a movable wall provided within said cylinder and dividing said cylinder into inversely expansible and contractible first and second compartments, said second compartment being connected with said nozzle, a first valve adapted to connect said second compartment optionally with said tank and said nozzle, said inlet means for the tank including the first compartment, a second valve bleeder valve being adapted to allow escape of water from the tank when the water level therein rises substantially above the proper operating leading from said outlet connection to said discharge member and a second branch to the second compartment of said transfer cylinder, a

- first valve means adapted to connect said second compartment optionally with said outlet connection and said discharge member, a second valve means located in said inlet connection permitting water to fiow from said first compartment to said tank when said first valve means is connected with said outlet connection, and a third valve means located in said inlet connection permitting fiow from the water supply to said first compartment when said valve means is connected with the discharge member.

18. Means for charging a fluid from a supply 01' relatively low pressure into a tank of relatively high pressure comprising a nozzle, fiuid inlet means for said tank, fluid outlet means for said tank, a cylinder, a movable wall provided .within said cylinder and dividing said cylinder into inversely expansibl and contractible first and second compartments. said second compartment betank is connected to said second compartment through said outlet connection.

20. Liquid charging and dispensing apparatus comprising a discharge means, a pressure tank, a fiuid inlet connection for said tank, a fiuid outlet for said tank, a transfer cylinder, a movable member provided within said cylinder and dividing said cylinder into first and second compartments, said first compartment being connected with said inlet connection, said second compartment being optionally connectable with said outlet connection and with said discharge means, a liquid supply connection for said inlet connection through said first compartment, said movable member including a means for biasing said member and forcing liquid from said first ing connected with said nozzle, a first valve adapted to connect said second compartmentoptionaliy withsaid tank and said nozzle, said inlet means including said first compartment, a second valve between the low pressure supply and said first compartment, a third valve between said first compartment and the tank, all of said valves being co-ordinated in action so that, when said second compartment is connected with the nozzle, said second valve between the low pressure supply and the first compartment is open and said third valve between said first compartment and the tankis closed and all 01 said valves being further co-ordinated in action so that, when said third valve connects said second compartment with said tank, said third valve is open and said second valve is closed, a bleeder valve between said third valve and the tank, and means responsive to the water level in said tank for operating said bleeder valve whereby water may escape through said bleeder valve when said water level rises substantially above proper operating level.

19. Liquid charging and dispensing apparatus comprising a discharge means, a pressure tank, a fiuid inlet connection for said tank, a fiuid outletconnection for said tank, means forming a chamber, a movable member provided within said means forming a chamber and dividing it into first and second compartments, said first compartment being connected with said inlet connection, said second compartment being alternately connectable with said outlet connection and with said discharge means, and a supply connection through said first compartment for said inlet connection, said movable member including a biasing means for forcing liquid from said first compartment into the tank. when the 75 compartment into the tank when the tank is connected with said second compartment through said outlet connection, and valve means in said inlet connection allowing application of pressure to said movable member from the liquid supply when said second compartment is connected with said discharge means.

21. In a carbonated water dispenser, a carbonated water pressure tank,- an outlet nozzle for carbonated water, a charging member, a movable wall provided within said member and dividing said member into first and second compartments, an inlet connection from a water supply under pressure to the pressure tank, said inlet connection including said first compartment, a first valve in said inlet connection between the water supply and said first compartment, a second valve in said inlet connection within said first compartment and said pressure tank, an outlet connection leading from a point below the normal liquid level in the pressure tank, said outlet connection being branched to said second compartment and to said outlet nozzle, a three-way valve adapted to connect said second compartment optionally with the pressure tank and said outlet nozzle, said first valve being adapted to be opened when said three-way valve is connected with said outlet nozzle and said second valve being adapted to be in closed position when said three-way valve is connected with said tank, said first and second valves being adapted to open and close alternately, and biasing means whereby the movable wall member is biased to expel water from the first compartment into the tank when said second compartment is connected to the tank.

22. In a carbonated water dispenser, a carbonated water pressure tank, an outlet nozzle tor carbonated water, a charging member, a movable wall provided in said charging member and dividing said charging member into first and second compartments, an inlet connection from a water supply under pressure to the pressure tank, said inlet connection including said first compartment, a first valve in said inlet connection between the water supply and said first compartment, a second valve in said inlet connection between said first compartment and said pressure tank, an outlet connection leading from a point below the normal liquid level in said pressure tank, said outlet connection being branched to said second compartment and to said outlet nozzle, a three-way valve adapted in one position 0 to connect the tank with said second compartment and'in another position to connect said second compartment with the outlet nozzle, said first valve being adapted to be opened when said three-way valve is in the last named position and closed when said three-way valve is in the asoaavs first named position, a bleeder valve controlling a bleeder opening in said inlet connection, and means responsive to the liquid level in said pressure tank for controlling said bleeder valve to open and discharge water from the inlet connection before the water reaches the pressure tank should the liquid level in the tank rise substantially above the proper operating level.

23. A carbonated water dispenser comprising a carbonating pressure tank carrying carbonated water, a charging member, a movable wall member provided in said charging member and dividing said charging member into first and second compartments, a raw water feed line for the tank from a raw water supply, a first check valve, a second check valve, a relief valve, said feed line including serially from the raw water supply said first check valve, said first compartment of said charging member, said second check valve, and said relief valve, float means respongo partment and between said nonle, an outlet means from said tank leading from a point below its normal water level to said connection between said second compartment and said nozzle, and a three-way valve between said outlet means from the tank and said connection adapted alternately to connect said second compartment with the tank or with said dispensing nonle, said movable wall member includingmeans biasing it for moving raw water from said compartment to the tank when the tank is connected with said second compartment.

ARCHIBALD R. BURGESS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 597,884 Kirkwood Jan. 25, 1898 1,939,280 Schietzel Dec. 12, 1938 2,383,422 Singleton Aug. 21, 1946 are of record in the 

